ESPN sportscaster Mike Tirico didn't find out until late Wednesday where he would be headed to Friday night for his game telecast. He was surprised it would be Houston for Game 6 of the Thunder-Rockets series, the fourth first-round series he has covered in 14 days. Tirico will broadcast the game with analyst Hubie Brown and reporter Holly Rowe at 8:30 p.m. Friday on ESPN. Tirico discussed the series in a phone conversation Thursday:

ESPN play-by-play man Mike Tirico. PHOTO COURTESY ESPN Allen Kee

Q: It looks like the series has flipped with the momentum now with the Rockets. What does the Thunder have to do to wrap up the series Friday night?

A: First off, hopefully we've muted all the people who have complained about Russell Westbrook. I think we have our answer in spades here, how valuable he is and what an extraordinary talent he is. That's the heartbreaking part of all this: This team has been so good all year to struggle now, because of an injury like this, is so frustrating and one that really felt unnecessary. How do you stem the momentum? I think it's the confidence. For the first time in a long time in Chesapeake Arena, Oklahoma City didn't look confident on the offensive side of the ball in the fourth quarter. There was a lot of standing around. Just not the same stuff we're used to seeing from this team. We need to see some confidence from the other offensive players besides Kevin if they are going to be able to get this thing going back in the right direction again.

Would Kevin Martin be one of those guys who needs to pick it up?

No doubt. You look out there where there were stretches in the fourth quarter where (DeAndre) Liggins was out there and you were just waiting for something to connect offensively and they didn't have it. But, hey, when the Westbrook injury happened, the first thing I said there's a massive amount of pressure on Kevin Martin. Not on Reggie Jackson, to me, because somebody needs to make up those points and Martin has the pedigree to do it. To have such a big game and to come up so empty — and he had some good looks. So you're 100 percent right. It's a lot on everybody, but Kevin Martin specifically has to play for them on Friday night in Houston.

We're you surprised by the Thunder's hack Asik strategy in the fourth quarter?

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Mel Bracht is a copy editor on the presentation desk and also covers sports media. A 1978 graduate of Indiana University, Bracht has been a print journalist for 34 years. He started his career as sports editor of the Rensselaer (Ind.) Republican...